Judah Ben-Hur (played by Charlton Heston), a rich Jewish prince and merchant, lives in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. He meets with his childhood friend Messala (played by Stephen Boyd) who is now a Roman general. The reunion pleases them both but different political views seperates them.

During the welcome parade a brick falls down from Judah's house and barely misses the governor. Although Messala knows that they are not guilty he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge.

Gore Vidal was an uncredited script collaborator. Despite deletions of any direct homosexual refferences the intense relationship between the two virile men says otherwise.

In an interview Gore Vidal said that he proposed to director William Wyler "that the two had been adolecent lovers, now Messala has returned to Rome wanting to revive the love affair but Ben-Hur has not."

After Wyler agreed to disconvert motievational ploy Vidal informed Stephen Boyd (and pointantly not Heston because as Wyler said: "Chuck could never handle it"), resulting in Boyd playing off the role of the spurned lover, especially when he cries "Is there anything so sad as unrequidet love".

Wyler once said "The biggest mistake we made was the love story. If we had out that girl (Haya Harareet) altogether and concentrated on the two guys, everything would have gone better."

This is the first movie I ever saw. And what an entrance to the world of movies! This bombastic and heroic epic made a lasting impression and was the beginning of my love for movies. The chariot race remains in your mind for decades.

Messala: "Is there anything so sad as unrequidet love"

Messala: Be wise, Judah. It's a Roman world. If you want to live in it, you must become part of it...I tell you, Judah, it's no accident that one small village on the Tiber was chosen to rule the world...It wasn't just our legions...No, it was fate that chose us to civilize the world - and we have. Our roads and our ships connect every corner of the earth, Roman law, architecture, literature and the glory of the human race.

Simonides: Do not pity me, Master Judah. In fact, I'm twice the man I was. There's Malluch, my other half. We met in the dungeons at the citadel. We were released on the same day, Malluch without a tongue and I without life in my legs. Since then, I have been his tongue and he has been my legs. Together, we make a considerable man.

Ben-Hur: If you were not a bride I would kiss you goodbye.
Esther: If I were not a bride, there would be no goodbyes to be said.

Drusus: Are they still alive?
Jailer1: The jailer in that wing will know.
Jailer2: Oh, they're alive. The food keeps disappearing.

Simonides: Judah Ben Hur! You've come back to us like a returning faith! I want to laugh again, Judah.
Judah: We will laugh.
Simonides: Laugh, amidst the dust and cobwebs..[sobs]

Ilderim: Balthasar is a good man. But until all men are like him, we must keep our swords bright!
Judah: And our intentions true! So I must leave you.
Ilderim: One last thought... there is no law in the arena. Many are killed. I hope to see you again, Judah Ben-Hur.

Pontius Pilate: A grown man knows the world he lives in. For the moment, that world is Rome.

Quintus Arrius: In his eagerness to save you, your god has also saved the Roman fleet.

Quintus Arrius: Now listen to me, all of you. You are all condemned men. We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live.

Messala: By condemning without hesitation an old friend, I shall be feared.

Sextus: You can break a man's skull. You can arrest him. You can throw him into a dungeon. But how do you fight an idea?

Quintus Arrius: You have the spirit to fight back but the good sense to control it. Your eyes are full of hate, Forty-One. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive. It gives him strength.

Ben-Hur: Almost at the moment he died, he said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Esther: Even then...
Ben-Hur: Even then, and I felt his words take the sword from my hand!

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